HOLLYWOOD — It’s a drama-filled night on FOX 61 as “Lethal Weapon” premieres and “Empire” returns for season three.

Lethal Weapon – Wednesdays on FOX 61 at 8 p.m.

Combining action and drama with ride-or-die friendship and humor, “Lethal Weapon” reimagines the hit movie franchise, as it follows classic cop duo Riggs and Murtaugh, who work a crime-ridden beat in modern-day Los Angeles.

Grief-stricken after the loss of his young wife and unborn child, ex-Navy SEAL-turned-detective Martin Riggs (Clayne Crawford) moves to California to “start over” at the LAPD. He’s paired up with Roger Murtaugh (Damon Wayans), who’s just coming back to the job after a near-fatal heart attack. Riggs’ penchant for diving headfirst into the line of fire immediately clashes with Murtaugh’s prudent, by-the-book technique.

When Captain Brooks Avery (Kevin Rahm) assigns them their first case together, Riggs drags Murtaugh into a high-speed chase culminating inside the Long Beach Grand Prix and a seaport shootout with drug dealers – and despite his protests, the older cop feels more alive than he has in years. Meanwhile, Riggs gets a glimpse of why Murtaugh is so determined to get home safely at the end of each day – he’s got a wife, Trish (Keesha Sharp), teenagers Roger Jr. (Dante Brown) and Riana (Chandler Kinney) and a newborn baby.

Riggs’ life-on-the-edge attitude makes him a priority case for the department’s psychologist, Dr. Maureen ‘Mo’ Cahill (Jordana Brewster). Rounding out the precinct is Scorses (Johnathan Fernandez), a pathologist with the LAPD who got his nickname after a stint in film school, which no one will let him forget.

By the time their first investigation ends, Riggs realizes he may have found something worth living for – a partner and friend, Murtaugh. And even Murtaugh figures this arrangement might just work out after all. If only Riggs doesn’t get them killed first…

Empire – Wednesdays on FOX 61 at 9 p.m.

Entering its third season, “Empire” returns, as the battle continues for the Soul of Empire. Each member of the Lyon family must cope with the events that were set in motion in the Season Two finale. Lucious pursues his music legacy with his streaming service, while also clashing with his half-brother, Tariq (Morocco Omari), who is leading a federal task force investigating him. Cookie aims to start over, in pursuit of her own happiness – a series of flashbacks reveal how Loretha Holloway became Cookie Lyon and how Cookie met Lucious. Meanwhile, the Lyon brothers – Andre, Jamal and Hakeem – all are determined to overcome the events of last season and move on, but the choices they face will become a battle for the soul of the Lyon family.